Jesus’ values are nothing like the world’s, so grasping who we are as God’s children can be hard (Rom. 8:16-17). Since the culture’s way of thinking is powerful and at times intoxicating, it’s easy to lose our way while pursuing the abundant life God promises. If that happens, the freedom we expected to experience in Christ can feel weighed down by sinful behaviors and thought patterns—not least of which is worry.
Anxiety comes readily when things go awry, and we think the responsible course of action is to take matters into our own hands, strategizing for every negative possibility. That might seem like the path to peace, but it will never liberate us from our fears. Eventually, we’ll realize we can’t do it on our own.
Jesus sets His followers free from worry (Matt. 6:25-34). But we must continually submit ourselves to His care. Then we can rest assured, knowing that no matter what our circumstances are, He’ll always come through for us—perhaps not in the manner we expect, but in ways that help us grow closer to Him, the only true source of peace.
Think about it
• What do you gain from worrying about circumstances? What do you lose?
